Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Wayne, City of

Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems to prevent cavities and support oral health in people.

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services updated its recommendation of an optimal level of 0.7 parts per million, or ppm, added to drinking water based on the health benefits of tooth decay prevention. Studies have shown that fluoride added to community water systems at this level reduces dental cavities, especially in children.

And studies have conclusively shown that fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash can also provide these benefits. Read More.

Health Concerns

Although the HHS-recommended level of 0.7 ppm can help promote oral health in children and adults, this level is likely too high for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water.

And fluoride in water at higher levels can be detrimental for everyone, especially children.

Long-term ingestion of higher levels of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth in children.

A 2024 authoritative assessment by the National Toxicology Program found that higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 ppm of fluoride, are associated with lower IQ in children. The conclusion was based on studies in human populations outside of the U.S.

Affecting systems with naturally occurring fluoride, EPA’s maximum legal limit is set at 4 parts per million (ppm) to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a condition where bones become brittle and more susceptible to fracture. But these effects may occur at lower levels of exposure, raising concerns that the current limit may not adequately protect public health.

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.765 ppm13130.240 ppm - 0.878 ppm
20190.835 ppm13130.367 ppm - 1.05 ppm
20200.799 ppm15150.321 ppm - 1.13 ppm
20210.733 ppm550.280 ppm - 1.10 ppm
2022N/A00N/A
2023N/A00N/A

ppm = parts per million

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 4 ppm

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-085294310.835 ppm
2018-02-055349960.814 ppm
2018-03-075386040.869 ppm
2018-04-035416470.868 ppm
2018-05-095478850.878 ppm
2018-06-055532800.788 ppm
2018-07-095577960.603 ppm
2018-08-085655430.808 ppm
2018-09-055698910.846 ppm
2018-10-025757190.800 ppm
2018-10-225780040.240 ppm
2018-11-135812540.785 ppm
2018-12-105852240.812 ppm
2019-01-085885180.865 ppm
2019-01-145922850.367 ppm
2019-02-135939320.807 ppm
2019-03-055974560.788 ppm
2019-04-086011460.586 ppm
2019-05-086087441.000 ppm
2019-06-036127971.000 ppm
2019-07-096181060.952 ppm
2019-08-076264261.05 ppm
2019-09-116307860.953 ppm
2019-10-086359640.720 ppm
2019-11-066427480.902 ppm
2019-12-046482210.866 ppm
2020-01-086526040.821 ppm
2020-02-036509390.520 ppm
2020-02-036509410.607 ppm
2020-02-036509400.321 ppm
2020-02-046566380.952 ppm
2020-03-046604830.946 ppm
2020-04-086654051.13 ppm
2020-05-126705940.980 ppm
2020-06-026765630.818 ppm
2020-07-086801930.870 ppm
2020-08-056882170.819 ppm
2020-09-096934460.791 ppm
2020-10-066979900.822 ppm
2020-11-047052910.797 ppm
2020-12-097094550.787 ppm
2021-01-137136490.800 ppm
2021-02-027187960.759 ppm
2021-03-037228291.10 ppm
2021-04-127255060.728 ppm
2021-10-127647400.280 ppm